Vatnik (slang)

Activists in Ukraine using the image of "Vatnik" in the action of "Boycott Russian Films" campaign

Vatnik or vatnyk (Russian: ватник) is a political slur,^[1][2] used in Russia and other post-Soviet states based on an internet meme that was introduced in 2011 by Anton Chadskiy, which denotes a steadfast jingoistic follower of propaganda from the Russian government.^[3]

The use of the word originates in the internet meme, first spread by Chadskiy on VKontakte, and used in Russia, Ukraine, then in other post-Soviet states. Its meaning refers to the original cartoon, which depicts a character made from the material of a padded cotton wool jacket and bearing a black eye which is used to disparage someone as a blindly patriotic and unintelligent jingoist who pushes the conventional views presented in Russian government media as well as those of Russian web brigades.^[4][5] "Put simply, the vatnik is representative of a certain archetypical Russian who … supports the regime out of fear, hatred of others, or most often a combination of both."^[6] The name "Vatnik" derives from the cotton wool jacket (Telogreika) that Chadskiy's cartoon character in the meme is made from.

Internet meme[]

The meme was created by the Russian artist Anton Chadskiy under the pseudonym Jedem das Seine.^[7][8][9] His associated picture of an anthropomorphic square-shaped quilted jacket similar to the title character of SpongeBob SquarePants was posted on VK for the first time on September 9, 2011. In 2012, the meme became widely popular on the Internet.^[10] Chadskiy created the group for the character on VK called RASHKA - THE SQUARE VATNIK. Rashka is a derogatory nickname for Russia, derived from the English pronunciation of the country's name with the Russian -k diminutive suffix attached.^[11][12][13]

Chadskiy's original drawing has been reproduced and modified many times. Features that are consistently included are gray color, a red nose (from drinking vodka), and a black eye (presumably from a fistfight with another vatnik).^[6] The meme became much more widespread in society after the Russian military intervention in Ukraine started in 2014.^[10]

In early 2015, Anton Chadskiy reported that he was forced to leave Russia in November 2014 because he feared political persecution by the government.^[14] He was living in Kyiv and planning to move to Berlin at the time.^[13]

Examples of use[]

• Autumn 2014 – Podrobnosti (Inter TV channel) in association with Irena Karpa started to produce an animated series; several episodes were devoted to the "vatnik" phenomenon.^{[15][16][17][18][19]}
• Orest Liutyi wrote a song about vatniks, as a remake of the famous Russian song "Landyshy" (Russian: Ландыши). In this song, he named Vladimir Putin as a khuylo.^[20]
• We will not let the Russian vata into our homes^[21] – the name of the Ukrainian "Boycott Russian Films" campaign;^[22]
• Inter is a "vata" channel of Firtash the "kremlyad" (a portmanteau meaning "Kremlin whore")^[23] – a critical comment in social networks;^[24]
• The proud name "vatnik"^[25] – one of the topics at essays and scientific works competition in the Altai State Pedagogical University, that was dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union victory in the German-Soviet War (Second World War).^[26]
• During New Year 2015 celebration, the author of the meme Anton Chadskiy held a humorous action – "Vatnik of the year" award. This action angered Russian Internet.^[27]
• During the end of 2014, the comedy television show VATA TV (original: ВАТА TV) is shown in Ukraine. It is devoted to the "vata" phenomenon. It is hosted by the popular 5 Kanal host Viktor Lytovchenko. He mainly speaks Surzhyk during programs.^[28][29]

See also[]

• Homo Sovieticus
• Jingoist
• Moskal

References[]

External links[]

• Article on Vatnik meme Lurkmore.to
• Brief history of "vatnik" term (video)